The Associated Press Managing Editors (APME) has posted the winners of its 2010 contests. But we’ve got the links! Congratulations to the winners:
Public Service Award:
The first winner was an investigation into the increasing use of radiation in diagnosing and treating disease, and its dangerous side effects, by The New York Times.
In the 40,000- to 150,000-circulation category, the Asbury Park Press of Neptune, N.J., won for a Series on New Jersey’s oppressive property taxes, which account for nearly half of the $47 billion state government budget. (The story is unfortunately now behind a paywall.)
The Bristol Herald Courier in Virginia won the small-circulation category for an eight-day series and subsequent follow-ups on the mismanagement of the state’s natural gas royalties. (This series also won them a Pulitzer.)
Gannett Foundation Award for Digital Innovation in Watchdog Journalism:
In the over 75,000 circulation category, the Chicago Tribune won for its News Apps Team, which works to encourage watchdog journalism from its readers and find new ways to tell its stories online.
In the under 75,000 category, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune was honored for its investigation into real estate “flipping” in Florida over the past ten years.
Innovator of the Year Award (Finalists):
The Seattle Times won a Pulitzer in the breaking news category this year for its coverage of the deaths of four police officers in a Parkland coffee shop. That work is now a finalist for the APME Innovator of the Year Award as well. The second finalist is The Statesman Journal out of Salem, Oregon “for extensive use of social networking in all types of reporting.” The third finalist is Rochester, New York’s Democrat and Chronicle for its Picture the Impossible alternate-reality game, which it developed with the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Update, Thursday: There are some more winners that I failed to include. Here are the rest of the APME award categories, with links to the winning stories.
First Amendment category:
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) for reporter Randy Ludlow‘s crusade for openness. His use of public records led to the resignation or removal of two state public safety directors and the director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., for a three-part series revealing that North Carolina has one of the nation’s most secretive laws regarding the release of personnel information for public employees.
Merced Sun-Star (Calif.) for exposing, through open records requests, racist e-mails sent by a city councilman to friends.
International Perspective category:
The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J., for columnist Bob Braun’s coverage of the earthquake in Haiti, which gave a personal tone to the heartbreaking stories he found.
The Washington Times for Heather Murdock’s coverage of Yemen, which, through a variety of stories, gave a sense of the challenges and dangers facing the Mideastern country.
The News Virginian, Waynesboro, Va., for the Borders Within, which told the story of the growing Hispanic population in Waynesboro.
Lauren Kirchner is a freelance writer covering digital security for CJR. Find her on Twitter at @lkirchnerOnline Convergence category:
The Seattle Times for coverage in print and online of the slayings of four police officers in a suburban coffee shop and the ensuing 40-hour manhunt, which the judges said gave the audience a chance to interact with the news in real time.
Florida Today, Melbourne, Fla., for a multimedia package that looked at the life of William Dillon, who spent 27 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. It combined a special Flash presentation, a 44-minute documentary and stories.
The Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, for wall-to-wall coverage of the murder of a popular high school coach who was gunned down in front of students.
